Dos Santos ready for Velasquez's ground game

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos has no problem if he gets taken down to the ground by his UFC 155 opponent, former title-holder Cain Velasquez.

Dos Santos, who possesses considerable knockout power, will defend his belt for the second time against Velasquez on December 29 in Las Vegas, in a rematch of their UFC on FOX bout.

The Brazilian fighter told MMA Mania that he expects Velasquez to try to take him down, something that he has been preparing for.

“Of course, I want to knock him out, but if the fight goes to the ground, I will be ready to submit him too,” Dos Santos said, adding that he is confident he can beat Velasquez on the ground as well.

“I train a lot of jiu-jitsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I’m working on my takedown defense. I know he’s a really good wrestler and he’s going to try to take me down use his ground-and-pound where he’s very good at,” he added.

“But if the fight goes to the ground, I’m ready. I’m ready to submit someone to really show how good I am in my jiu jitsu.”

When they fought for the first time last November 2011, it took Dos Santos just a little over a minute to knock out Velasquez and claim the heavyweight title.

“My first strategy is always to knock my opponents out and I will try to do that again,” he said. “I know Cain Velasquez, I respect him a lot. He’s really tough.”